Adil Rashid heading to Adelaide Strikers with Gillespie to make mark in Big Bash

ADIL RASHID will link up with Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie at the Adelaide Strikers after being released from England duty this winter to compete in Australia’s Big Bash League.

The leg-spinner was not included in England’s Test squad for the tour of South Africa in order to develop his white-ball skills ahead of the ICC World T20 in India next spring.

With Gillespie occupying the same role at Adelaide as with Yorkshire, the 27-year-old was expected to complete a switch to the Strikers and he has become their second and final international import player for BBL05.

Gillespie said: “As soon as we identified that we needed another spin option for this summer, Adil was one of the first names that came to mind.

“He is one of the most exciting emerging spinners on the international stage and I have watched him improve and mature year on year.

“I feel he is the perfect fit for the team and it is exciting to have him on board.”

Rashid has experience of playing in Adelaide, having been part of the West End Redbacks team - a precursor to the Strikers - when they claimed the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash title in 2010/11.

His new Yorkshire team-mate David Willey has already agreed a deal with Perth Scorchers as England look to broaden their horizons ahead of the ICC World T20.

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